The Richlands Blue Tornado will take on the Central Wise Warriors at 7:00 p.m. on Friday. Richlands' pitching crew has only allowed 2.9 runs per game this season, so Central Wise's hitters will have their work cut out for them.
Richlands made up a huge gap compared to their last game against Gate City, but they still couldn't quite topple them. The Blue Tornado never let the Blue Devils get on the board and left with a 9-0 win on Wednesday. The Blue Tornado might be getting used to big wins seeing as the team has won three matches by nine runs or more this season.
Averi Fuller made a splash no matter where she played. She looked comfortable on the mound, not allowing a single earned run while striking out 11 over seven innings pitched. She has been consistent : she hasn't given up more than two walks any time she's pitched this season. She was also solid in the batter's box, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and one double.
In other batting news, the team relied heavily on Alli Hale, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. Another player making a difference was Haven Crabtree, who scored two runs while going 1-for-1.
Meanwhile, there's no place like home for Central Wise, who bounced back after a loss on the road last Tuesday. They walked away with a 9-5 victory over Lee on Friday. The win was a breath of fresh air for the Warriors as it put an end to their three-game losing streak.
Like Richlands, Central Wise also got a great game from a two-way player: Kaelyn Dales. She kept things locked down with no earned runs or hits over four innings pitched. Dales was also big at the plate, going 2-for-4 with one home run, three RBI, and two runs.
Dales wasn't the only one making solid contact as three players wound up with at least one hit. One of them was Abigail Sturgill, who scored two runs while going 2-for-3. Sophie Carter was another, scoring two runs while going 2-for-4.
Central Wise pushed their record up to 4-3 with the victory, which was their eighth straight at home dating back to last season. Those home wins came thanks in part to their hitting performance across that stretch, as they averaged 8.0 runs over those games. As for Richlands, they are on a roll lately: they've won four of their last five contests. That's provided a massive bump to their 4-3 record this season.
Richlands couldn't quite finish off Central Wise in their previous matchup back in March and fell 6-4. Will the Blue Tornado have more luck at home instead of on the road? Check MaxPreps after the match for a full breakdown of the game, commentary, and other softball content.
